New Forest vineyards boosted by huge harvests following summer heatwaves

THE New Forest is set for a bumper batch of fine wine as local vineyards enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions over the summer.

The area’s four vineyards, Marlings, Brook Hill, Setley Ridge and Coach House – all certified by the New Forest Marque – were boosted by huge harvests in early autumn.

They have been credited to a long, hot summer of heatwaves and record-breaking temperatures.

Paul Cartmell, who runs Marlings in Sway with his partner Mark Barber, said growing wine in England can be tough, but this year was a good one.

“The climate in England is always a challenge to winemakers, as we are susceptible to late-season frosts, and sometimes our summers aren’t always as sunny and as warm as we would like,” he said.

“However, the weather this summer has been almost perfect.”

Marlings was planted in 1990 and produces around 4,000 bottles of wine each year, using grape varieties including the recently established pinot noir and chardonnay which flourish in Hampshire’s increasingly warmer climate.

The small team at Marlings in Mead End Road includes head wine-maker Piotr Nahajski. Helping to bring in the harvest each year are volunteer pickers, including neighbours, friends and customers.

“Harvest time is our favourite time of year,” said Paul. “It can be very satisfying when there is good crop of grapes and there is a great buzz among the pickers and in the winery.”

Marlings has taken a string of industry accolades over the years: the most recent a silver medal in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2022 for its sparkling rosé brut, which is made using the traditional champenoise method.

Mark and Paul took over the site in 2013 after moving from London, replanting a third of the two-and-a-half-acre plot.

The couple put their success down to the quality of their wine, the product of hands-on, attentive cultivation, and a commitment to maintaining the small-scale and sustainable nature of the business.

Brook Hill in Bramshaw is another family-run, small-scale vineyard with a host of awards under its belt.

Planted in 2012 by Ian Brown, who, two years earlier, moved to the New Forest with wife Amanda, the vineyard is now around 2.5 acres. It is made up of six grape varieties including chardonnay, pinot noir, bacchus, ortega, pinot gris and dornfelder.

These are used to make still and sparkling white and rosé, and in 2021 Ian and Amanda began producing a red, aged in a French oak barrel for nine months.

In a good year, the couple aim to produce around 3,500 bottles.

Amanda explained that when Ian retired the pair wanted a passion project they could share in.

“We had always enjoyed wine, so with Ian’s skills and interests in biochemistry and gardening it seemed an ideal project,” she said.

“He went on some courses, and we’ve learned a lot from other vineyard owners and wine producers – it’s a very friendly and interactive community.

“Ian always does the winter pruning, whereas I do a lot of the vineyard work during the summer. Ian is the winemaker and I do most of the social media.

“Mainly it’s just the two of us – we have deliberately stayed small so that we can run things ourselves but we have plenty of help during harvest from family and friends, rewarded with lunch and, of course, wine!”

Brook Hill has won several silver and bronze medals at the Independent English Wine Awards and from Wine GB, the main organisation for wine grown and produced in England and Wales.

Setley Ridge on the outskirts of Brockenhurst is run by husband-and-wife team Paul and Hayley Girling, who purchased the site in 1999 and opened the vineyard two years later.

It produces red, white and rosé still wines, and occasionally a sparkling. The growing, wine-making and bottling all take place on site.

Paul said: “In the late summer/early autumn we get together to pick the grapes and celebrate the harvest by eating and drinking among the vines.

“At all times we try to be sensitive to the environment in which we work and are rewarded with a rich diversity of flora and fauna for us to enjoy and appreciate.”

Paul works closely with Roger Marchbank, who owns Coach House, a small vineyard in West Wellow. Roger grows grapes at his vineyard and then crushes and ferments at Setley Ridge.

Stockists of Marlings wine include Shallowmead Farm Shop in Boldre, Pilley Community Shop, Shappen Stores in Burley, Rosie Lea House in Lymington, and Setley Ridge Farm Shop.

Brook Hill wine can be purchased at local hotels and shops including Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst, Pages in Lyndhurst, Woodgreen Community Store, Gourmet Grocer in Fordingbridge, and Green Hill Farm Holiday Village shop in Landford. It is also included in hampers from the Forest Foodie based in Lymington.

For more information about the vineyards, visit newforestmarque.co.uk